tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25774430263436158052024-02-18T17:45:47.374-09:00Community SchoolingOn this shrunken globe, men can no longer live as strangers. ~Adlai E. StevensonMarisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-77116855011420436482014-10-17T11:18:00.001-08:002014-10-17T11:18:42.143-08:00I'm Back, I've Grown, I've Changed, I'm the SameHi everyone,<br />
<br />
Well it's been almost a year and a half since I last blogged and what a roller coaster ride it has been. It has been a time of great personal change and growth, I've come out the other side bruised and battered but stronger and more confident in myself.<br />
<br />
I've learned I can't love someone enough if they don't love themselves, I can set boundaries for myself of what I am willing to do and that is my right as a person. I can listen to others but don't have to make their reality my own. I am worth fighting for.<br />
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I am again becoming the same strong confident person I was when I was younger and I have missed me. I don't know how I got lost, I think it was incrementally, powered by emotional and physical exhaustion and guilt.<br />
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I still have a long ways to go in combating negative self talk but feel I have the tools and support to get me back to the woman I know I can be, for myself and for my children.Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-49213108332166629242013-02-07T14:55:00.001-09:002013-02-07T14:59:22.009-09:00AlphaTots App Review<br />
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<img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCs89f3p5-cuJwZlVg958DbOok0YGp5KYWX8w4dSgFtr_rMihBemU-gIHe2UVybGy1ecQdeTtvnz0OJ0kWVl6LzfsodgGGvtLM7ZpklUxT7C1O7DvTkrm2SlckyPVlyf55NB35f6KqTk/s200/blogger-image-575325445.jpg" width="200" /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJE0nSJmzwkcXnfhG5zDOt1gPbSP7K3jJaIbOhJu7nn4Dk6STnTVWkczboXKLi7taiDWJxrQyW60XRBm_ARYrf6Hc3LbuxaOLbeANwn-sV8iDdgK19nucYXWCSh1SZDAJQlhJUSVImi4/s1600/blogger-image-765694530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJE0nSJmzwkcXnfhG5zDOt1gPbSP7K3jJaIbOhJu7nn4Dk6STnTVWkczboXKLi7taiDWJxrQyW60XRBm_ARYrf6Hc3LbuxaOLbeANwn-sV8iDdgK19nucYXWCSh1SZDAJQlhJUSVImi4/s200/blogger-image-765694530.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alphatots/id436142340?mt=8" target="_blank">AlphaTots</a> by Spinlight Studio<br />
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Price: $2.99<br />
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This is one of Yellow and Reds favorite apps! They can easily navigate through it without adult help, which I am finding out is a very good quality. Once the child picks a letter, the letter is shown in upper and lowercase and the narrator repeats the letter name and sound. Then there is an activity associated with it using the chosen letter. The activities are interesting enough to keep the child's attention and keeps them coming back for more. There is also an alphabet song that shows the upper and lower case letters as it is sung. I was surprised how much my kids like the song and will listen to it over and over again. Graphics are very cute and child appropriate. This is definitely worth $2.99. <br />
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Skills Reviewed: A-Z letters and sounds, upper and lower case letters, alphabet song.Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-55534672904300922852013-02-03T20:24:00.001-09:002013-02-07T14:58:10.261-09:00Endless ABC App Review<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb6c4FHT4FRhmT4Uy-zIy6VgxQAAgBAhxb1eYD6nG6eq7InD1KALXpTa0lpBCysBJ9qArBgolqwQU8lXSmFK5qjIVB27_WGEQ4lbIZi-MFHCqDpmrd3omHp9oJ9EBSQZkXeJZia3hvFg/s640/blogger-image-1773885325.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb6c4FHT4FRhmT4Uy-zIy6VgxQAAgBAhxb1eYD6nG6eq7InD1KALXpTa0lpBCysBJ9qArBgolqwQU8lXSmFK5qjIVB27_WGEQ4lbIZi-MFHCqDpmrd3omHp9oJ9EBSQZkXeJZia3hvFg/s200/blogger-image-1773885325.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/endless-alphabet/id591626572?mt=8" target="_blank">Endless ABC</a> by Callaway Digital Arts Inc. <br />
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Price: Free for limited time <br />
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This is a ridiculously adorable app the kids and I both enjoy! Each letter of the alphabet has a vocabulary word starting with that letter the child can choose from. Once the child chooses a letter the monsters bring in the letters and scatter them across the page. In the center is an outline of the word and the child moves the letter into it's proper position. As they are moving the letter it wiggles and makes a monstery letter sound. Once they place the letter in the correct position a woman's voice names the letter. Once the word is completed, the word is repeated and the monsters act out the word as the definition is read by the narrator.<br />
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Skills reviewed: Letter sounds, letter names, vocabulary (more advanced then most ABC apps)Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-18752793768249834642013-02-03T19:32:00.003-09:002013-02-03T19:32:37.956-09:00Bought an iPadI took the plunge and bought an iPad. I knew the battle was futile as soon as I walked into the Apple Store. All those smiling faces and friendly salespeople were just too much for my already weakened condition.<br />
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So as you can imagine I have spent the last few days at the iTunes store looking at educational apps for the kids. It didn't help that we are all feeling a little under the weathers so it was a cuddling and movie watching weekend.<br />
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I am going to <u>try</u> to write reviews on the apps we're using. Looking on-line and in the app store I was completely overwhelmed by the choices available! I hope they will help others in their quest through the mountain of educational apps.Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-75140261664383187832013-01-30T22:31:00.000-09:002013-01-30T22:31:22.888-09:00Goodbye Enbrel, Hello HumiraEnbrel and I have parted ways after I developed a fairly severe site-injection reaction. Oddly enough, I didn't have a reaction in the beginning when most people get them, but started getting it around month 5. My Rheumatologist had me start taking Benadryl and Zantac on shot day (in addition to the Claritin I already took daily). That worked for a couple of weeks but then I had to start taking them the day before, day of, AND the day after my injection. So for 3 days of every week I was a very drowsy/loopy lady :-). The last shot I injected ended up with a 5" diameter injection site reaction and the beginning of swelling in my hands and feet. As you can imagine, my Rheumy said I was done with Enbrel.<br />
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So Humira and I have been dating for the past 8 weeks. So far, we are starting off slow, but I am hopeful it could lead to something more. So far no site-injection reactions! Please keep your fingers crossed that it starts working soon AND I don't have an allergic reaction to it!Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-64631447375880618462013-01-20T19:18:00.001-09:002013-01-20T19:19:16.588-09:00Bedtime Math<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcTxc_k9g6s6QpVx72rO0ZVhqcgPK78wEthj_UKHnlOPyGiQFXyj8iE39rfXYM5RUvpPO-0v2QwyQ8N75mFIEinNjqspS-NfweNci6c2M4SE5AbwmHdIu5vXfh7BzWibUgz9BDdpNWq4/s1600/Bedtime+Math.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcTxc_k9g6s6QpVx72rO0ZVhqcgPK78wEthj_UKHnlOPyGiQFXyj8iE39rfXYM5RUvpPO-0v2QwyQ8N75mFIEinNjqspS-NfweNci6c2M4SE5AbwmHdIu5vXfh7BzWibUgz9BDdpNWq4/s200/Bedtime+Math.jpg" title="http://bedtimemath.org/" width="200" /></a></div>
I stumbled across <a href="http://bedtimemath.org/" target="_blank">Bedtime Math</a> while reading the <a href="http://itsworkingforme.com/" target="_blank">It's Working for Me</a> Blog, and was intrigued by the name. Bedtime math, what in the world could that be?<br />
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Each day there is a new word math problem presented and three challenge levels: Wee Ones (preK), Little Ones (K-2nd) and Big Kids (2nd +). Obviously those grades are approximate and you can choose whichever problem(s) would be a good fit for your child.<br />
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They also offer a free PDF calendar that you can add your own stickers too, to show which days your child completed the problem.<br />
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I think Blue might really enjoy this and the word problems are on fun topics and don't feel too "school-y".Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-15861541438687690592012-12-06T14:42:00.002-09:002012-12-06T15:33:19.756-09:00History Odyssey TimelinesI just received my History Odyssey Timelines from Rainbow Resource and they are lovely! I ordered both the <a href="http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/039403/70d77bec207de886414471b9" target="_blank">HO Timelines</a> and the <a href="http://www.rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?id=039409" target="_blank">HO Prehistory Timeline</a>.<br />
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The HO Timelines has 4 timelines included: Ancients (6,000 BCE to 500 AD), Middle Ages (AD 500- 1600), Early Modern (AD 1600-1850) and Modern TImes (AD 1850 to 2020). Each timeline has 7 rows with small labels on the far right and left:<br />
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-Treaties/Agreements<br />
-Wars and Conflicts<br />
-Inventions and Discoveries<br />
-Eras/Reigns Dynasties<br />
-General Events<br />
-Men and Women<br />
-Art/Architecture and Literature<br />
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I also purchased the <a href="http://www.rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?id=042770" target="_blank">HO Timeline Sticker Pack</a> with 200 black and white stickers. There are 50 stickers for each time period covered and has an explanation on the back of who/what the sticker is and the dates associated with it. There are no stickers for the prehistory timeline.<br />
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The Prehistory Timeline covers 2 milion BC to 7,000 BC. It is approximately 4 inches longer than the other timelines and does not have the titled rows. <br />
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After receiving the timelines I took them straight to Office Depot and had them laminated, hopefully this will increase their chance of survival with my three little ones! The total for all five timelines to be laminated was $42.29. I used my<a href="http://www.mystarteacher.com/home.do" target="_blank"> Office Depot Star Teacher</a> reward card and saved about $7.50, this is a benefit available to homeschoolers and is easy to sign up for online.<br />
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Next step is to find a wall space big enough for all of them!<br />
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<br />Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-4940492703529044852012-12-01T12:45:00.000-09:002012-12-01T12:45:17.425-09:00Waldorf Window StarsI was introduced to these Window Stars when we were living in Alaska. They are easy to make, colorful and brighten up even the dreariest days. These are still a little advanced for my little ones so I made a few for them to enjoy this holiday season. I bought the craft book and paper at a wonderful store in Fairbanks, AK, <a href="http://www.enchantedforesttoysak.com/" target="_blank">Enchanted Forest Toys</a>. They specialize in Waldorf inspired arts and crafts, toys, games and homeschooling curricula and the best part is it's owned by two homeschooling moms!<br />
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Tools needed:<br />
-Scissors and/or paper cutter<br />
-Clear glue or transparent tape<br />
-Ruler <br />
-<a href="http://www.enchantedforesttoysak.com/creative-arts.html" target="_blank">Colored wax paper</a><br />
-<a href="http://www.enchantedforesttoysak.com/craft-and-activity-books.html" target="_blank">"Crafts Through the Year" by Thomas and Petra Berger</a><br />
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I wish I had some better pictures of the finished product but here you go:<br />
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Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-13430345137840490012012-11-24T11:12:00.002-09:002012-11-27T10:56:31.900-09:00Synchronizing Math Programs Part I<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, I may have gone a little overboard with the math curricula for Blue. We have Rightstart A and B, Singapore Essentials A and B, Singapore Standard 1A and 1B, and all the Miquon books! I have also heard great things about <a href="http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm" target="_blank"><b>M</b>athematics <b>E</b>nhancement <b>P</b>rogramme (MEP)</a> but think I need to get the first three under control before adding a fourth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At this point we are using RightStart as our spine and the others as supplements. I've been struggling with how to synchronize the three programs since they cover materials in different orders. Today I decided to disassemble Miquon Orange and Singapore Essentials (this is a big step for me because I hate taking pages out of books, it feels almost sacrilegious!). The Miquon pages tear our nicely but a razor blade and I have a hot date with Singapore Essentials later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After all the pages are out of the books I am going to try to divide them into an order that makes sense for our family, update Homeschool Tracker with the order sequence and then slip them into page protectors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-7359764438616132852012-11-18T13:19:00.001-09:002012-11-18T13:19:18.393-09:00Phonics PathwaysNow that our household goods have arrived and we've unpacked, I am trying to get our homeschooling prep work done so we can get started again. I am also going to try to make a teachers guide and daily lesson plans so any adult can teach the kids, in case I'm not feeling well. So here are my preps for <a href="http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/000437/d70b4326fccc730f65ad5892" target="_blank">Phonics Pathways</a> by Dolores G. Hiskes:<br />
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Supplies:<br />
<ul>
<li>Cardstock</li>
<li>Copy paper</li>
<li>Laminate and machine</li>
<li>Scissors</li>
<li>Notebook</li>
<li>Ziplock bags or clear sleeves for game pieces</li>
<li>Hole punch/clear sleeves/laminate for game instruction</li>
</ul>
To Do:<br /><ul>
<li>Read introduction</li>
<li>Short Vowel Stick - page 4 - copy onto card-stock and laminate (4 "sticks", one for each child and one for teacher notebook)</li>
<li>Short Sheet of Vowels - pages 5, 256 - (not sure how many copies yet of sheet), and 1 copy of instructions from page 5. </li>
<li>Short Vowel Shuffle and Shoo-Fly Shuffle - pages 5, 6, 257 - make 1 copy of instructions on page 5, make 4 copies of page 6 onto card-stock, laminate and cut apart. Page 257 is a master copy to add syllables and/or words to later in the book (optional). </li>
<li>The Train Game - pages 20, 258, 259 - make 2 copies of each page onto card-stock, laminate and cut apart. Put copy of instruction in teacher notebook.</li>
<li>Blendit! - pages 16, 260 - make 3 copies of page 16 and cut apart 2 of them, the 3rd one will be used as the board. Put copy of instruction in teacher notebook. Page 260 is a blank master sheet to be used later in the book (optional).</li>
<li>Star Search - pages 37, 38, 261 - make 2 copies of page 38 onto card-stock, laminate and cut apart. Make 1 copy of page 37 and put in teacher notebook. Page 261 is a blank master sheet to be used later in the book (optional).</li>
<li>Bag of Bugs - pages 48, 49, 262 - make 2 copies of page 49 onto card-stock, laminate and cut apart. Make 1
copy of page 48 and put in teacher notebook. Page 262 is a blank master
sheet to be used later in the book (optional).</li>
</ul>
Now to get to work.... Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-70071544465967144852012-11-17T12:16:00.003-09:002012-11-17T12:17:23.807-09:00ThanksgivingIt's funny how once you have kids you start to think more about the assumptions you've made during your life. What is Thanksgiving? Why do we celebrate it? What really happened between the pilgrims and Native Americans <br />
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I told my kids it is a time to give thanks for our family, friends, home, food and health. I just don't think they are old enough for the ugly truth of the history of this holiday. Maybe in a couple of years, but right now I want them to be innocent a little longer. <br />
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Once they are a little older I may share these with them:<br />
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<a href="http://www.plimoth.org/learn/MRL/interact/thanksgiving-interactive-you-are-historian" target="_blank">-Plimoth Plantation - Thanksgiving Interactive: You are the Historian</a><br />
There is also a great teachers guide that goes along with it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.manataka.org/page269.html#THE%20PLYMOUTH%20THANKSGIVING%20STORY" target="_blank">-The Plymoth Plantation Story by Chuck Larsen</a><br />
The last narrative is written for kids, but if you scroll up there are two narratives written for adults that include "more" of the history of Thanksgiving.Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-71888788441716916352012-05-02T19:53:00.001-08:002012-05-02T19:53:35.208-08:00Book It!I saw this program mentioned on the Well Trained Mind forum and thought I would check it out. <a href="http://bookitprogram.com/default.asp" target="_blank">Book It!</a> is a reading incentive program for K (age 5 by Sept 1st) - 6th graders and homeschoolers are eligible to participate. The program runs from October 1st and ends March 31st and during that time children can earn free pizzas for reaching their reading goals. I think Blue would really enjoy this incentive and it could be some nice mommy alone time for him, maybe it will become our monthly "date"!Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-17067320877350635352012-04-15T11:05:00.004-08:002013-01-21T21:05:24.335-09:00How to SMILE (Science and Math Informal Learning Educators)<a href="http://howtosmile.org/" target="_blank">How to Smile</a> is another great free site for STEM focused hands-on-activities. From their site:<br />
<br />
Howtosmile.org is collecting the best informal science and math
education activities on the web, and creating tools to help those who
teach school-aged kids in non-classroom settings.<br />
<br />
This site is free to register and free to contribute. They have an in depth advanced search function with age, subject, material costs and even a special search by chemical. I did a quick search for Acetic acid (vinegar) and it came up with several fun experiments using this household item.<br />
<br />
I think this resource along with <a href="http://communityhomeschooling.blogspot.com/2012/03/teachers-domain.html" target="_blank">Teachers Domain </a>will be a wonderful supplement to Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding, since Blue loves hands on experiments.<br />
<br />
Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-69602865769081541672012-04-04T06:48:00.002-08:002012-04-04T06:48:53.505-08:00Living Math Books<a href="http://www.livingmath.net/ReaderLists/AddingSubtractingTallies/tabid/316/language/en-US/Default.aspx" target="_blank">LivingMath</a> has some wonderful living math book lists, everything from early concepts to geometry to spacial ideas. From their site:<br />
<br />
This site is dedicated to sharing resources for learning, exploring and enjoying math in a dynamic and holistic manner, for all ages.<br />
<br />
They also have a Yahoo groups page <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LivingMathForum/" target="_blank">LivingMathForum</a>,which I plan on joining. I can't wait to delve into this site and Yahoo group and will report back!<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></strong>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-53710708394256143142012-04-04T04:54:00.000-08:002012-04-04T04:54:25.614-08:00A Beautiful EveningWe have a beautiful pond right off of our deck and last night while eating dinner outside we had one of our first springtime visitors. A beautiful Mallard that splashed and preened in front of us while eating all the goodies out of the pond. The kids were fascinated and spent a half an hour looking at her and asking questions. I found an old copy of a field guide for birds and we looked her up, discussing why she wasn't a certain duck and how we determined she was a Mallard. Blue grabbed his nature journal and drew picture of the pond and duck and practiced writing his name and date on his paper. Red showed some interest in drawing in her journal and Yellow just enjoyed taking in the scene. I'm looking forward to many more days like this.Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-28595417611102926922012-03-30T19:02:00.000-08:002012-04-15T11:06:50.706-08:00Teachers DomainI just found this wonderful site called <a href="http://www.teachersdomain.org/" target="_blank">Teachers Domain</a>! Here is some information from their website:<br />
<br />
<i>Teachers' Domain</i> is a free digital media service for educational
use from public broadcasting and its partners. You’ll find thousands of
media resources, support materials, and tools for classroom lessons,
individualized learning programs, and teacher professional learning
communities.<br />
<br />
They receive major funding from the National Science Foundation and seem to have an especially rich collection of science resources. As a registered member (which is free!) you have the ability to create folders to organize your resources, by child, by topic, etc. There are also several ways to filter which I think are particularly helpful for educations: Grade Level, Content, Media Type, Permitted Use and Accessibility Features. There is also the ability to join groups and create your own groups which I have not had the opportunity to look at.<br />
<br />
*Thanks to <a href="http://only-smallthings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Only Small Things</a> blog for posting about this fantastic site!*<br />
<br />
<b>Update:</b><br />
It looks like the groups are for pre-formed groups, I have not figured out how to join one or create one yet. Does anyone else know anything about the group feature?<br />
<br />
Also, Blue watched several videos and loves them! He even asked to watch one several times and then asked for the same materials they were using and did his own experiment.Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-91838405551224086262012-03-27T17:26:00.000-08:002013-01-30T22:33:17.012-09:00New MedicationWell, it is that time again to try a new medication, but this time I will be injecting myself! I will be starting Enbrel next week and am keeping my fingers crossed it will help. I went to the Rheumatologist yesterday and had labs done, chest x-ray, TB test, Pneumonia vaccination, and a little class on how to inject myself. My immune system will be lowered so I am going to have to be careful not to catch any infections, easier said than done with three children under the age of 6. Please let this medication work!<br />
<br />Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-49500372539153526962012-03-22T10:13:00.003-08:002012-03-22T10:16:23.587-08:00It's been a while...<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
A lot has transpired since the last time I posted here. We moved 2500 miles away and are now back in the "lower 48", as Alaskans like to call the continental United States. This has been a really good move for us and I hope the military doesn't change our plans. We are now close to family, old friends and a lot more resources for my health problems. The children are still adjusting to all the changes but like being with Grandma and Papa so that helps. We've found a really great homeschooling group with kids their age, and it is fairly active so we are staying busy. I am looking forward to spring (which will be here a lot sooner than in Alaska) and starting this next phase of our life!</div>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-7714504880484944832011-08-27T14:55:00.000-08:002012-12-06T16:45:58.034-09:00Yearly Celebrations<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Now that life has settled down a little I am going to put together a list of monthly celebrations. I checked out a really lovely book called "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Days-Celebrate-Holidays-History-Fascinating/dp/0060007656/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354844301&sr=1-1&keywords=days+to+celebrate" target="_blank">Days to Celebrate</a>" by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Each month is a chapter and starts with a calendar of birthdays, important events, and holidays listed for each day. Following is several pages of poems by authors who were born during the month or commemorating events that occurred during the month. The book is mostly Euro-centric, so I hope to find a multicultural resource that is similar.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
I'm also using a book I found at a 2nd hand store the other day "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Every-Day-Holiday-Celebrations-Whole/dp/0800758773/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354844261&sr=1-2&keywords=every+day+a+celebration" target="_blank">Every Day a Holiday</a>" by Silvana Clark. Like the title says It has a celebration for almost everyday of the year! They range from super silly, like Play in the Sand Day (Aug 11th), and National Day of Puppetry (last Sat in April) to the more traditional holidays we are used to celebrating. There are one page descriptions for each day with fun activities, crafts and food ideas. This book has focus on US holidays and is more oriented to Christian holidays.<br />
<br />
I'm hoping the book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Festivals-Together-Multi-Cultural-Celebration-Lifeways/dp/1869890469/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354843651&sr=1-1&keywords=festivals+together" target="_blank">Festivals Together</a>" by Sue Fitzjohn, Minda Weston and Judy Large will help fill the large multicultural voids. I may also contact some of my Muslim and Jewish friends for suggestions from them.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
These are some of the subject areas I plan on including in my list:</div>
<ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<li>Holidays</li>
<li>Festivals </li>
<li>Famous authors birthdays (if they are age appropriate)</li>
<li>Famous poets birthdays (if they are age appropriate)</li>
<li>Historical events, including inventions, discoveries</li>
<li>Musician birthdays</li>
<li> Season changes</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I don't plan on doing a celebration everyday, or even all those on this list, but a few sprinkled here and there could be a fun addition to our school days.<br />
<br />
<b>January</b><br />
<br />
4th Thursday - National Clashing Clothes Day <br />
<br />
1 - New Years Day<br />
14 - National Volunteer Day <br />
15 - Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday<br />
18 - Winnie the Pooh Day<br />
19 - National Popcorn Day<br />
29 - National Puzzle Day<br />
<br />
<b>February</b><br />
<br />
3rd Monday - Presidents' Day<br />
2nd Full Week - Random Acts of Kindness Week<br />
<br />
14 - Valentines Day<br />
19 - Solar System Day<br />
24 (2013) - Chinese Lantern Festival<br />
<br />
<b>March</b><br />
<br />
40 Days before Easter - Mardi Gras<br />
<br />
2 - Dr. Seuss' Birthday<br />
14 - National Kids' Craft Day<br />
17 - St Patrick's Day<br />
20 - World Storytelling Day<br />
21 - World Poetry Day<br />
27 (2013) - Holi <br />
30 - Van Gogh's Birthday<br />
<br />
<b>April</b><br />
<br />
Easter (sometimes in March)<br />
<br />
2 - International Children's Book Day<br />
20 - International Astronomy Day<br />
22 - Earth Day<br />
26 - National Bird Day<br />
<br />
<b>May</b><br />
<br />
2nd Sunday - Mother's Day<br />
Last Monday - Memorial Day<br />
Last Tues/Wed - National Geographic Bee Finals<br />
<br />
1 - May Day<br />
1 - Mother Goose Day<br />
5 - Cinco De Mayo<br />
12 - Limerick Day<br />
<br />
<b>June</b><br />
<br />
1st Saturday - National Trails Day<br />
3rd Sunday - Father's Day<br />
<br />
1 - Superman's Birthday<br />
7 - National Crayon Day<br />
9 - Donald Duck's Birthday<br />
14 - Flag Day<br />
19 - Butterfly Day<br />
21 - First day of Summer<br />
23 - National Pink Day<br />
25 - Eric Carle's Birthday<br />
<br />
<b>July</b><br />
<br />
4 - Independence Day<br />
10 - Teddy Bear Picnic Day <br />
24 - Cousin's Day<br />
<br />
<b>August</b><br />
<br />
2 - Friendship Day<br />
3 - Parks Day<br />
29 - Mary Poppin's Birthday<br />
30 - National Toasted Marshmellow Day<br />
<br />
<b>September</b><br />
<br />
1st Monday - Labor Day<br />
1st Sunday after Labor Day - Grandparent's Day<br />
4th Sunday - National Good Neighbor Day<br />
<br />
7 - Backwards Day<br />
18 - National Play-Doh Day<br />
22 - National Family Day<br />
22/23 - First Day of Autumn<br />
29 - Pumpkin Day<br />
<br />
<b>October</b><br />
<br />
2nd Monday - Columbus Day<br />
<br />
1 - World Vegetarian Day<br />
16 - Dictionary Day<br />
31 - Halloween<br />
<br />
<b>November</b><br />
<br />
Thanksgiving Week - National Game and Puzzle Week<br />
<br />
4th Thursday - Thanksgiving<br />
<br />
3 - National Sandwich Day<br />
11 - Veterans Day<br />
14 - National Teddy Bear Day<br />
15 - American Recycle Day<br />
16 - The Sound of Music Day<br />
17 - Homemade Bread Day<br />
<br />
<b>December</b><br />
<br />
8 Days between November 25 - December 26 - Hanukkah <br />
December 26 - January 1 - Kwanzaa<br />
<br />
21 - First Day of Winter/Winter Solstice<br />
22 - Flashlight Day<br />
25 - Christmas<br />
26 - Boxing Day<br />
31 - New Year's Eve<br />
<br /></div>
Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-72935379312286577992011-08-27T14:23:00.001-08:002011-08-28T14:30:55.758-08:00Welcome to Holland<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I saw this on the blog <a href="http://lettersfromholland.blogspot.com/">Letters From Holland</a> and thought it was a wonderful description of not only the experience of raising a disabled child but also the grief of living with a disability. When you are young you have dreams of what your life will be like and living with a chronic disability is isn't one of them. You don't necessarily want to change your experience because of everything you DO have, but there is a loss of your dreams and it can be difficult to let those go. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Welcome to Holland</b></span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">by Emily Perl Kingsley (c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this...... </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.<br />
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.<br />
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.</span></div>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-71248822935689894642011-08-13T11:53:00.000-08:002011-08-13T11:53:12.777-08:00Can I really do this homeschooling thing?<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let me start by saying I'm having a rough week. It has not been the physical pain, though that is always there, but the psychological pain of wondering if I have failed as a mother to my wonderful children.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Blue, my oldest son, started Play Therapy last week because of some behavioral issues and unexplainable fatigue. At this point she believes it is anxiety, and I am sure I am a big cause of it. In the past year I have spent so much time at various doctor appointments that when I get clothes and makeup on the kids ask if I am going to the doctor? Not grocery shopping, not to the library, the doctor! He knows I am "sick" but he has become obsessed with me dying. I went through a long phase of this myself when I was young and can remember the overwhelming fear I had of my mother dying. It is horrible to hold him as he is sobbing "I want to die when you do Mom, I want to die when you do". I have tried to explain to him that yes I am "sick" but I'm not dying, it is so hard to know how much or how little to tell a 4 1/2 year old about these things.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yellow, my twin son, was just evaluated by the local school district and has qualified for the special education preschool because of several issues: expressive language and articulation, personal/social, and daily living skills. I knew he was behind, and knew he would most likely qualify, but it was still difficult to hear someone else tell me he was. They were explaining the services they could provide in the preschool environment and mentioned a small yellow bus could transport him there and back. That was when the tears almost took over. I just imagined my angelic and quirky little boy alone on the "short bus" heading to his special ed preschool. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When you have children you dream of what their futures will hold and all the adventures this life will take them on. Maybe because of everything I have been through my wishes for my children were simple, I wanted them to be healthy and happy. They could be a sanitation worker or an engineer, I didn't care I just want them to be happy. Right now Blue is not happy, and Yellow is struggling and frustrated.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are all these issues they are having my fault? In some way have I caused them or contributed to them? I see how much other mothers do for their kids, and it makes me feel inadequate. Some days I can barely care for myself, and I wonder how in the world I am going to educate my children? Then I'll have a good day and think that even if I can't teach them everything I want to they are still learning through play and life, and are surrounded by a family that loves them. Something I don't think public school can provide them. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So we're back to taking it one day at a time... </div>Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-26684827009077705872011-07-23T15:18:00.000-08:002011-07-23T15:18:36.617-08:00Coming full circleAfter spending the past several years researching homeschooling philosophies, methods and curriculum I am back to embracing unschooloing. It has been a long journey of self exploration into my own feelings and concerns of being unschooled as a child. I had always looked at my experience through the eyes of an insecure child and now it was time for me to look at it through the eyes of an adult and parent.<br />
<br />
How will I define "unschooling" for our family? I know how my parents did it, and I know how I lived it, but will it be the same? My parents were what is now called Radical Unschoolers (RU). I just found a wonderful forum for RU <a href="http://familyrun.ning.com/forum">http://familyrun.ning.com/forum</a> and it makes me smile that all the ideas supported in the RU community are what my parents did organically 28 years ago.<br />
<br />
Will I call myself a RU? I don't know? From all the reading I have done on RU it seems that there is a box you have to fit into to be considered one. Don't flame me :-) I am sure this isn't always true, and it is probably my interpretation from the sites I have visited. I just want to do what is right for my children and occasionally what I need to do to keep myself healthy. If I was stronger and healthier I could make those sacrifices for my children but after 34 years I know I'm not. If I overdue it it's my children who are going to pay with a mommy in bed for a week.<br />
<br />
We shall see how this new decision will change our course, but I am excited for the journey!Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-4210953806478986352011-05-05T22:39:00.000-08:002011-05-05T22:39:30.229-08:00Dolly Parton's Imagination LibraryThis is such a wonderful program that gives children age 0-5 a free book every month regardless of income. The books are age appropriate and have the childs name on the address label, so it is their own personal book.<br />
<br />
My kids really enjoy receiving their books and many of them have ended up being some of their favorites. The program is available in communities with affiliates set up so just go to their website and enter your zipcode <a href="http://imaginationlibrary.com/">http://imaginationlibrary.com/</a>. If your community does not have one maybe you can start one up :-)Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-77821329453537279692011-04-21T11:06:00.000-08:002011-04-21T11:06:16.201-08:00Broken HeartI think Blue is starting to realize something is up with my health problems. I've been doing OK the past few days but have been really tired in the evenings. Last night while OM was putting the twins to bed I was sitting in my recliner and Blue said "I really want you to get better and stop sitting in that chair", then he went on to tell how if I ate good grow food I would feel better. He also thought (in his childhood logic) that maybe I ate too much candy and that is why I am sick and hurt :-( Ugh, it broke my heart. I pretend they are too little to notice but obviously not. So sad... Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577443026343615805.post-77826278275570162292011-04-07T21:33:00.000-08:002011-04-07T21:33:54.104-08:00Handbook of Nature Study - Free CopyI found a free copy of the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock on-line today. The one I found is at <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/handbookofnature002506mbp">archive.org </a> and is offered in many different formats. Enjoy!Marisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17797088849858440540noreply@blogger.com0